Canada's left feels pressure as Liberal support falls

Significance

Support for the Conservatives now equals the combined support for the centre-left Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP), which is further left. The Conservatives are now leading with every major demographic, including young voters affected by the housing affordability crisis, and the future of the left is in doubt.

Impacts

• The political left will be largely confined to institutions such as universities, unions and public-service entities after the election.
• Painful structural reforms to those institutions are likely in the latter half of this decade, setting up confrontation.
• If a Conservative government appears able to offer both a stronger economy and more efficient services, a long period in power is possible.